Witnesses Report Eritrean Troops Inside Ethiopia’s Tigray as Tensions Rise Along the Border
Witnesses say dozens of Eritrean soldiers moved through Adigrat in Ethiopia’s Tigray region on 7 October after crossing from Zalambessa and heading toward central Tigray, in what would be the first reported sighting of Eritrean forces inside the region since a halt to major fighting.
Reports of Eritrean troops moving inside Ethiopia’s Tigray region are stirring concern at a moment when regional tensions are already high.
Witnesses said they saw dozens of Eritrean soldiers drive through Adigrat in eastern Tigray on 7 October. The troops reportedly moved from the border town of Zalambessa toward central Tigray, heading in the direction of Edaga Hamus.
If confirmed, this would be the first reported sighting of Eritrean forces inside Tigray since major hostilities were formally paused under a Cessation of Hostilities agreement. The account has not been publicly confirmed by Ethiopian or Eritrean authorities.
The possibility of Eritrean troops re‑entering Tigray carries particular weight because of Eritrea’s earlier role in the conflict there. Its forces were widely reported to have operated alongside Ethiopian federal units, and were accused by rights groups of serious abuses against civilians, allegations that Eritrea has rejected.
For communities in northern Tigray, the prospect of Eritrean soldiers appearing again on local roads raises fears of renewed insecurity at a time when people are trying to rebuild basic livelihoods.
Any renewed Eritrean military presence inside Tigray would also complicate implementation of the peace deal, which includes commitments on the withdrawal of foreign forces. Questions about whether those terms are being met have already been politically sensitive inside Ethiopia.
The situation has implications beyond Tigray. Eritrea’s security posture has often affected its relations with neighbours and with outside powers that have an interest in stability in the Horn of Africa.
Key signals in the coming days will be satellite or photographic evidence along the Zalambessa–Adigrat–Edaga Hamus route, official statements from Addis Ababa, Asmara and Tigray’s interim authorities, and any public engagement by regional or international actors over the reported troop movements.
Sources
- OSINT